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San Benito County
San Benito County, just east of Monterey County, includes the Cienega Valley, Lime Kiln Valley, Mt. Harlan, Paicines and San Benito AVAs. Elevations throughout the region range from sea level to 5,000 feet.
Cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean slip through gaps between the Gabilan Mountains and the Santa Lucia Mountains, moderating the climate and allowing Pinot Noir and Syrah to thrive. Furthermore, the wide variations in elevation and soil structure create a number of distinct microclimates. Although by 1994 the number of acres planted to vineyard in San Benito County had fallen to fewer than 1,000 (following the sale of Almaden in the late 1980s), by 2007, vineyard plantings had increased to roughly 2,500 acres. The AVA boasts nine wineries; at least six have visitor tasting rooms open on a regular basis and the others are open by appointment only.
Info sources: http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/San-Benito.html
San Benito County Winegrowers http://www.sbcwinegrowers.org
Cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean slip through gaps between the Gabilan Mountains and the Santa Lucia Mountains, moderating the climate and allowing Pinot Noir and Syrah to thrive. Furthermore, the wide variations in elevation and soil structure create a number of distinct microclimates. Although by 1994 the number of acres planted to vineyard in San Benito County had fallen to fewer than 1,000 (following the sale of Almaden in the late 1980s), by 2007, vineyard plantings had increased to roughly 2,500 acres. The AVA boasts nine wineries; at least six have visitor tasting rooms open on a regular basis and the others are open by appointment only.
Info sources: http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/San-Benito.html
San Benito County Winegrowers http://www.sbcwinegrowers.org